Belagavi: Farmers vow to continue stir till Union government assures of MSP revision

Farmers associations said in Belagavi on Tuesday (October 13) that they would not withdraw their protest till Pralhad Joshi, Union Food Minister, gave a concrete assurance of revising the minimum selling price for sugar within a week.

“All the organisations working with sugarcane farmers, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene, Kabbu Belegarara Okkoota, and Samyukta Kisan Morcha have resolved to not move out of the protest sites till the Minister sends us a clear message. We will not be convinced by hollow promises,’’ farmer leader Shashikant Padasalagi Guru told reporters in Hire Bagewadi.

“We are trying to build an inter-State network of farmers’ organisations as it does not concern only the farmers of Karnataka, but all the five crore sugarcane growers in the country. We have received a message of solidarity from Rakesh Tikait and other leaders from U.P. and Punjab. Some of them will join the protest in a day or two,’’ he said.

He accused Mr. Joshi of telling lies before the media about farmers not submitting their demands well in advance.

“Representatives of various farmers organisations had met Mr. Joshi at his residence in Hubballi eight months ago and submitted a memorandum to revise the minimum selling price of sugar, which has remained at ₹31 for nine years now, and the sugarcane fair and remunerative price, which has stayed below the cost of cultivation. But he lied to reporters, saying we had never met him. He could have easily said he had forgotten the meeting or misplaced our memorandum. But he did not. I think that is deliberate,” he said.

Mr. Padasalagi added, “Also, he invited around 100 farmer leaders, including 35 from Karnataka, to New Delhi, but refused to listen to our grievances properly. He spoke in vague terms about forming a committee to study our problems. Why does the government need another committee to ensure the welfare of farmers, when it has reports of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission and several other committees and commissions in front of it?’’ he said.

“We believe that Mr. Joshi betrayed our trust. We are also convinced that he is incapable of managing the ministries under his command. He should resign from his position and stop further damage to his reputation,’’ the seer said. The farm leader claimed that he had not attended the New Delhi meeting as he did not want any politician paying for his air fare.

Chunappa Pujari, KRRS leader, said that farmers had refused a request by the Union government for one month to address their issues. “What can they do in one month that they have not been able to do in eight months? Also, why do they need time for revising sugar prices, when they silently increase petrol prices overnight? That is why we did not heed to their demands. Even before the delegation left for New Delhi, we had warned of a protest if our demand for MSP was not fulfilled immediately. This is not a snap strike,’’ he said.

Strict security arrangements were done at the two sites of Rasta roko at Hattargi and Hire Bagewadi. Sources said around 2,000 police officers and personnel, including civil and reserve battalions, were on duty.

Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan visited Hattargi and urged police officers not to use force against protesters. “I am the son of a farmer and know very well that farmers have some genuine concerns. They also have a fundamental right to peacefully protest. They have come to the street with some demands. They may get angry and use abuses against the government or against the police, who are the most visible part of the government. I request all police officers and personnel not to get provoked or get angry at such outbursts. We need to be patient and let them protest. We should not resort to lathi charge needlessly. However, if the mob loses control, indulges in violence or tries to damage public property, then senior officers will take a call about future actions,’’ he said.

The SP told reporters that the police had made arrangements as soon as they heard of the protest. “We diverted vehicles away from the national highway and provided alternate routes to commuters. Movement of buses and the inter-State transport of agricultural products and other commercial items are not disturbed. Arrangements have been made for heavy vehicles to stop on the highway. Efforts will be made to talk to the protesting farmers so that the public does not cause much trouble due to the protest,’’ he said.

Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam visited Hire Bagewadi and spoke to officers. He told reporters that the police would respect the rights of farmers to peacefully protest.

Police have diverted vehicles through four alternative routes between Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. They are Dharwad–Alnavar–Ramnagar–Khanapur–Belagavi; and Dharwad–Lingasugur Cross–Nandgad – Khanapur–Belagavi; and Kittur–Bidi–Nandgad–Khanapur–Belagavi; and Dharwad–Kittur–M.K. Hubballi–Pariswad–Khanapur–Belagavi.

The alternate routes for light motor vehicles are Gokak–Nippani–Chikkodi and Gokak – Kamatanur Gate–Hukkeri–Sankeshwar.

Motorists travelling towards Belagavi from Yaragatti have also been advised to use the Yaragatti to Bagalkot or Vijayapura route, as indicated in the police advisory.